Driver Assistance Risk Zone Display for Intuitive Hazard Awareness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing advanced driver assistance systems do not consider the psychology of how a person perceives risks, leading to non-intuitive risk information for drivers and increased reaction time.

Innovation Solution

An advanced driver assistance system that estimates risks for virtual positions of a vehicle, forming a risk zone based on current vehicle parameters, and displays this zone to intuitively convey potential dangers, considering personal space and psychology.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the system displays detailed risk information based on current vehicle position only, then the measurement precision of risk assessment is improved, but the ease of operation and driver intuition deteriorate due to non-intuitive presentation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverisk assessment precisionVSAvoiddriver reaction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dimensionality change by extending risk assessment from the current vehicle position into future virtual positions along the driving path. Instead of displaying risk only at the present location, the system calculates and displays risk zones for multiple future positions, creating a temporal and spatial extension that helps drivers intuitively understand potential hazards ahead and plan reactions accordingly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary risk assessment for virtual future positions before the vehicle actually reaches those positions. By calculating risk zones in advance for positions along the driving path and displaying them proactively, the system enables drivers to anticipate hazards and prepare reactions earlier, reducing actual reaction time when hazards materialize.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If the system calculates risk for multiple virtual positions, then the driver's awareness and planning time are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver awarenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the driving path into multiple discrete virtual positions and calculates risk independently for each segment. This segmentation allows the complex task of future risk assessment to be broken down into manageable calculations for individual positions, making the overall system more tractable while still providing comprehensive awareness information to the driver.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates simplified copies or representations of risk zones for virtual positions rather than performing full complex simulations. By using representative risk zone displays for future positions based on current vehicle state and environment, the system provides adequate driver awareness without requiring prohibitively complex computational models for each virtual position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4068153B1Advanced driver assistance system for assisting a driver of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4068153B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4068153B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4068153B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

The present invention provides an advanced driver assistance system for assisting a driver of a vehicle. The system comprises a sensor unit, a processing unit and a display unit. The sensor unit is configured to sense an environment of the vehicle. The processing unit is configured to determine, based on a sensing output, at least one feature of the environment. The processing unit is configured to determine, for a current time, a risk zone of the feature, by estimating, based on at least one parameter of the vehicle at the current time, at each virtual position of two or more virtual positions of the vehicle a respective risk with regard to the feature; and by forming the risk zone based on the two or more risks. The display unit is configured to display the environment of the vehicle with the feature and the risk zone of the feature.